FEED VALUE OF MULTIPURPOSE FODDER TREES AND SHRUBS IN WEST-AFRICA - EDIBLE FORAGE PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF MILLETTIA-THONNINGII AND ALBIZIA LEBBECK

Millettia thonningii (Schum. & Thonn.) Bak., a nitrogen fixing shrub n ative to Africa and Albizia lebbeck Benth, were harvested at 0.50 m ab ove ground level after one year of establishment to determine edible f orage production. Harvests were made at the end of the main (April-Aug ust) and minor (September-November) wet, and dry (December-March) seas ons for two years. Dry season edible forage samples were analyzed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), a cid detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose (CL) , soluble phenolics (SOPH) and proanthocyanidins (PAs). In sacco dry m atter (DM) and nitrogen (N) degradation and in vitro gas production (G P) characteristics were also determined on dry season edible forage sa mples. Edible forage production of M. thonningii was significantly low er than A. lebbeck during the wet seasons. Millettia thonningii had re latively lower CP and PAs, but higher NDF, ADF, ADL, CL and SOPH than A. lebbeck. In sacco DM and N degradation and in vitro GP parameters o f M. thonningii were significantly lower than A. lebbeck. Parameters o f in sacco DM degradation and in vitro GP were highly correlated. Mill etia thonningii appeared to be of lower feed value than A. lebbeck bas ed on edible forage production, chemical composition, in sacco DM and N degradation and in vine GP characteristics.